The Evolution of Pulmonary Hypertension and Its Prognostic Implications Post-TAVI—Single Center Experience

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Since the first transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedure was performed in 2002, advances in technology and refinement of the method have led to its widespread use in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) and high surgical risk. We aim to identify the impact of TAVI on the clinical and functional status of patients with severe AS at the one-month follow-up and to identify potential predictors associated with the evolution of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in this category of patients. Materials and Methods: We conducted a prospective study which included 86 patients diagnosed with severe AS undergoing TAVI treatment. We analyzed demographics, clinical and echocardiographic parameters associated with AS and PH both at enrolment and at the 30-day follow-up. Results: In our study, the decrease of EUROSCORE II score (p p p p p = 0.001), increase in the left ventricle ejection fraction (p = 0.007) and improvement of diastolic dysfunction (p p p = 0.020), pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP) (p p Conclusions: PAAT, TAPSE, PASP and the TAPSE/PASP ratio are independent predictors that allow the assessment of PH and its prognostic implications post-TAVI.

Keywords

• transcatheter aortic valve implantation
• pulmonary hypertension
• aortic stenosis
• heart failure